As the saying goes: good things come to those who wait.
For Caitlyn + Irvin, that good thing was a breathtaking destination wedding in Santorini, Greece.
Like so many 2020 couples, Caitlyn + Irvin faced some major disappointment when the dream wedding in Mexico they’d planned was canceled due to the pandemic. They pivoted and rescheduled only to find out that Irvin (who works as Army Military Police in the National Guard) was being deployed for a whole year and wouldn’t be back in time for the new date. That’s when they decided to get on with making it official and tie the knot in an intimate backyard wedding. But they never gave up on that destination wedding dream.
Technically this gorgeous oceanside celebration at stunning cliffside venue Cavo Ventus in Santorini was a vow renewal for the couple. But they seriously pulled out all the stops!
With the help of Tie the Knot Santorini the couple created a dreamlike, flower-filled experience in beautiful shades of blue that echoed the iconic sky + ocean blues of coastal Greece.
A “fun, modern, earthy, and whimsical” destination wedding was what Caitlyn + Irvin wanted, and—third time’s the charm—that’s exactly what they got. And Phosart was there snapping the pics to prove it!
We love the romantic simplicity of these modern, arched wedding invites from Minted. The metallic gold script font added a subtle fairytale feel.
And we spy a pair of heels from Bella Belle! One of our fave places to buy wedding shoes!
Cute pajamas are something people so rarely splurge on for themselves, so they make the perfect bridesmaid gifts. You can’t go wrong gifting your girls matching PJs like the satin champagne sets that Caitlyn’s besties were rocking.
Bella Hairstylist created Caitlyn’s glam Old Hollywood waves, and makeup artist Renia Bledaki complimented the look by pairing a dramatic eye with a flawless neutral lip.
“Finding my wedding dresses was equally as complicated as trying to plan my wedding… haha. I initially went dress shopping thinking I was getting married in Mexico and found my dream dress on my first appointment. A beautiful fit and flare with matte lace and a Champagne underlay,” says Caitlyn of this gorgeous plunge neck gown from Casablanca Bridal. “Fast forward to the THIRD time planning the wedding, that first dress didn’t seem like it fit my vision anymore for the Greece wedding. So I went back to the drawing board and found a dress that was completely the opposite of my first dress, a white, fun, sparkly fit and flare dress with pearls sprinkled throughout.”
“After buying my second dress, I realized I still had an attachment and loved my first dress. So to make it feel more dramatic I found a beautiful overlay skirt to place on my first dress to make it feel more like what envisioned wearing in Santorini. I ultimately was able to wear both dresses on my wedding day and surprised all my guests with that second dress outfit change!”
(Keep your eyes peeled for that pearly, sparkly second dress!)
Groom Irvin went for a timeless tuxedo look from Indochino.
Our Musical Choices Processional: "I Get To Love You" by Ruelle (played on violin by Anna Edelweiss Dovak)
Recessional: "I Came Here For Love" by Sigala and Ella Eyre (played on violin by Anna Edelweiss Dovak)
First Dance: "Perfect For Me" by Bradley Marshall
Some serious floral design genius: balancing the vibrant blues with this stunningly simple all-white bridal bouquet.
It’s always so touching to see couples put pen to paper and write their own wedding vows like Caitlyn + Irvin did. Look through our complete vow writing guide to get started on your own.
The Reception
Have you ever seen a more romantic reception setup?!
We love the way that these round tables from Spicy Bites were arranged to create a creative, curvy banquet-style vibe.
This whole day has us dreaming of jetting off to Greece. Dig into our destination wedding planning guide to see if a wedding day abroad would be right for you!
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding The most memorable moment of the wedding day for both the bride and groom was seeing each other for the first time when walking down the aisle. The second most memorable would probably be Irvin pouring the Champagne for our Champagne tower and seeing it all fall to pieces 😳 It definitely was shocking to everyone there and is for sure the most talked about moment from our wedding. But in true Caitlyn and Irvin fashion, there had to be something that didn't go perfect.. haha.
Organic linens and dreamy votives from Spark Event Rentals were the perfect chic + simple backdrop for that lush + winding reception table floral garland.
Caitlyn + Irvin’s intimate guest list enjoyed a reception feast from Mario Restaurant while staring out at the sunset and the sea.
In addition to providing the evening’s music, Santorini Events was in charge of the pendant lamps and string lights that made up the wedding’s unforgettably glowy lighting.
Petranart crafted this classically iced two tier white wedding cake for the happy couple to slice into.
There it is!! Caitlyn’s sequin + pearl Jimme Huang gown really did make the perfect reception dress.
Our Advice To Those Planning Now From the bride: "My advice for future couples when planning their wedding would be to make decisions based off what makes them happy. It is hard to please everyone and at the end of the day the people that are most important are the couple themselves. The people that truly love and care about the couple will show up and celebrate them no matter what. Thats especially important when having a destination wedding. ALSO, to get yourself an amazing wedding planner!!"
Time for dancing means time for bridal sneakers! Caitlyn’s Sidny sneakers from Betsey Johnson in Ivory were an excellent match for her second dress.
We love that Caitlyn finished out the evening in a custom pearly bridal jacket.
The cliffside vistas. The romantic moments. The FIREWORKS! You need to press play on the wedding video from Phosart below.
Congrats, Caitlyn + Irvin, on your spectacular Santorini wedding! So glad your destination celebration dreams finally came true! All the best from GWS!
photography: Phosart // venue name: Cavo Ventus, Santorini, Island, Greece // event design: Tie the Knot Santorini // planning: Tie the knot Santorini // florals: Bloom de Fleur // wedding dress: Casablanca Bridal and Jimme Huang // bride’s shoes: Bella Belle // hair stylist: Bella Hairstylist // makeup artist: Renia Bledaki // groom attire: Indochino // videography: Phosart // paper goods: Minted // catering: Mario Restaurant // cake: Petranart // tabletop rentals: Spark Events // furniture rentals: Spicy Bites Catering // music: Santorini Events // lighting: Santorini Events